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Cdutil tapes @wat @nii-)lira `JOHN G. FOSTER AND GEORGE. W.,TOWNSEND, OF BOSTON, MAS- SACHUS'ETT S.

Letters Patent YNotzfliLdlO, 'dated August l0', 1869. t

SUBMARINE ROCK-DRILLING- -MACHINR The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

. 1.1 a whom# mail Concern! These collars lshould. be furnished with friction-roll Be it known that we, JOHN G. FOSTER and GEORGE ers whenever the supporting-frame is to be located in Y W, TOWNSEND, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, an inclined position, for the purpose of enabling the and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and drill to be obliquelyl operated, Y improved Submarine'Drilling-Apparatus; and we do When the drill is vertically operated, twocollars, hereby declare that the following is a full andA exact k and It 75, figs. 3 and 5,= sheet 3, need only be used. description thereof', reference being hadto the accom- The aforesaid collars k It' are secured to the plates panying four sheets of drawings, which form apoition or platforms in such a manner that they can be readily of this specification. t adjusted to 'any desired position, or be entirely re- 'lhe said drilling-apparatus consists of three general moved from said plates or platforms. parts', to wit, thel drill, the frame, and the appliances The drill-frame is kept irmly in any desired posi-v i'or operating the rhill. tion by means. of guys, lV lll, (sheet 2,) descending from The drill a bagsee sheet 2,) consists of an iron shaft, their connection with the upper plate or platform f g,-

3 a b, and a cutterread, c, the` latteri'being secured to or from both platforms, to eye-bolts or pin'ssecuredin theformer in any suitable mannen Y small holes drilled into the surface of the submerged The cutting-edge of the drill-head c is of a peculiar rock by a submarine driver; the legs of thc said drill shape, viz, that cfa continuous curve, similar in form frame having been rst so` adjusted as to bring its to the letter S, and the said edge being contained in platform-plates to the desired horizontal or oblique ptia-plane at right angles'to the axis of the drill-shaft.' sition.

We are aware that the cutting-edges of drill-heads The drill is operated by means of a forked and slothave heen'of a continuous curved shape, but such cutted clutch,l m u, (sheet 1,) the curved and winding ting-edges have, in every case, deviated more or less guide r, the stops y s, in the said guide fr, and any y from a plane at right angles to the axis of the drillsuitable lifting-power connected'with said clutch. shaft; and we have ascertained by experience, that the "The forked end of the clutch nt a embraces the said class of drill-head cutters does not work as freely, guide r, and traverses freely thereupon. does not out as rapidly, and is not as durable as our The slot p, in the clutch m n, (which receives the said improved drill-head cutter, the edge of which is a drill-roch) is neanto its solid andpheaviest end, and the continuous plane curve, as above described. parallel oblique ends of said slot are of such a shape VThe drill-frame consists of two horizontal iron platand angle, that when thesaid clutch is lifted by an form-plates, f y and c It, connectedv by uprights, jl j, attachment to its lifting-chain or cord o, the sharp and supported by longitLulinally-adjustable legs, d t. vangles of the said slotwill instantly seize hold of the (See sheets 1 and 2 of the drawings.) i drill-rod and carry it Vupward tothe point wherethe po- The lower ends of the uprights jjj are so arranged sition of the ,clutch is changed by its forked end being as to allow the upper plate fg to be lowered to `the brought in contact with the stop s, in. or upon the l level of the lower plate e h. guide a', just before thc moving-power attains its This may he done by means of' screw-threads cut on maximum height. the enlarged lower ends of the uprights j j j, and nuts. working upon said screws above and below thc lower o, the weighted.end thereof causing thc clutch to-slide platform-platey (i h, so that by turning the upper series; freely down to its starting-position, withits forked end e e1, of said nuts, upward on tothediminished shank vresting on the stop 1, when the returning recipro-4 of said uprights, they willinstantly slide down through cat-ing movement of the actuating-power will again the holes'n the bottom plate, until the top plate fg lift the clutch mu, and agaiu'carry up and let fall the rests upon the said bottom plate. Or, the same result drill-rod. may be produced, by having two of the uprights jj The curved and winding guide lr, (sheets 1 and 2,) connected with the bottomplate c h by hinges, (see causes a partial revolution to be imparted to the'drill e'l e2, figs. 1 and 2, sheet 3,) and the third fastened by during its upward movement; andgas the Obliquity of a clamp. .(See e, same figures.) -V the winding shape `of said guide lr increases from its By unloosing the said clampes, the top plate fg, lower to its upper extremity, by shifting the positions and the 'uprights jjj, can be at once turned over and of the stops y s, upon thc said guide, more or less hang belowr the lower plate c h. rotary movement will be imparted to the drill by each The drill 'plays up and down through holes in the of its lifting-movements.

The tendency of the drill to bounce back, or to strike repeatedly in the samc place, is resisted by a centre of the plates or platforms fg and c h, between collars kk It k', figs. 8 and 9, sheet` 3,.

The next instant thc clutch descends with its lider v i shaft u, (sheet 2,) or to place the same originally iu lare as fellows, viz:

ratchet-wheel and spring-pawl attached to the upper platform-plate fg, (dg. 4, sheet 3;) the said ratchetwheel being operated by a lug projecting from its inner periphery into a vertical groove in the drill-rod, as shown in the aforesaid drawing.

The manner of applying the lifting-power to the drill is clearly represented by the drawings on sheet 4.

A disk, or its equivalent, on the end of a properlysupported rotating shaft, projects beyond' the side of a boat moored above the submerged drilling-apparatus. The lifting-chain or cord o, which rises from the clutch m n, passes through au aperture in the upper platform-plate f g, and a short distance above the same, where it is connected to a block which can-ies apulley, u; and this pulley u is connected to the crank-piu c,

that projects from the disk x, by means of the rope .2, d

which descends ii'om its connection with the said crankpin, and after passing around the said pulley, rises to the boat above, and is there secured to a belaying-pin, or is so secured that it can be readily let out or drawn in, as circumstances may require, thereby enabling the apparatus to be adapted to the varying depth of the water, and the varying position of the boat, without interrupting the working of the submerged drill; and should a storm come on suddenly, the boa-t can be unmoored, the operating-rope or chain z can be instantly detached from the lifting-chain o, and the beat he taken to a place of safety, and when the danger' is past, the boat can return, andas speedily be connected with the dxill again.

The shaft which carries the disk :c may be rotated by a steam-engine, or by any other suitable motivepower.

\Vhenever it may beneeessary to hoist out the drilla working-position, the loaded end of the clutch 'm 'a is supported by the terminating-hook of the chain o', which descends from the upper platform-plate f g, (sheet 2.)

Generally, an iron rod, z, (sheet 2,)'is iitted tothe top ofthe drill-shaft a, and t0 the upper end of thev said iron rod z, a wooden pole, y', is fitte-d; the said wooden pole being of suicient length to extend beve the surface of the water, and thus afford a constant index to the movement-s of the drill.

The slot iu the clutch m a is so proportioned that it has sufficient play upon the drill-shaft to compensate for any vertical motion of the vessel containing the operating-machiuery, that may be caused by the swell of the sea. For example, if the vessel be raised at the moment the crank-pin 'n (sheet 4) is at its highest point, the clutch will, as a matter of course, be raised higher than usual,but the stop s will disengage the drill-shaft at the proper height, after which the drill-shaft will easily slide through the clutch byreason of the oblique form of the-ends of the slot in said clutch. To prepare for the highest possible rise of the waves or swell in exposed situations, it is oniy neeessary to lengthen the forked stem ofthe clutch, and give it the angular form shown on sheet 2. If, on the contrary, the vessel be in the trough of the sea, at the time the crank-pin 1: 'is at its highest point, it may happen that the clutch will not be raised suiiiciently high to discngage the drill-shaft, and in that case the drill will not descend with its usual velocity. This, however, rarely occurs, and is an unimportant disadvantage when compared with the almost insurmountable obstacles that are presented under similar circumstances, in the usual modes of drilling.

The advantages vclaimed ferthis drilling-a-ppara-tus First, the simple arrangements of the frame for supporting the' drill, and the facilities atlbrded for the submarine driver to place it in position, by means of thev adjustable legs and the holding-guys, as also for disengaging said frame from the rock, and hoisting it upon the deck of the working-vessel at the time of blasting.

Second, operating the drill by means of aelutch and its auxiliaries, so arranged as to turn the drill as it rises, and. automatically disengage it at the proper height, in such a manner as to permit it to fall clear and direct; also, to instantly catch the drill and lift it again without less of time.

Third, facility of giving a greater or less turn to the drill during each lifting-movement, by means of the increasing and adjustable inclination of the guide r, and of'the adjustable stops s 1, combined with said guide.

Fourth, the extended cutting-edge of the drill, and the unusual durability of said edge, caused by giving. it the shape of the letter S.

Fifth, facility of adapting the drilling-apparatus to Vthe rise and fall of the tide without interrupting the working of the drill.

Sixth, adaptation of the drilling-apparatus to the waves of the sea; the oblique slot in the clutch 'nr/n so harmonizing with the length and shape of the forked shank of saidclutch as to cause the movements of the drill to be nearly perfect at all times.

Seventh, the arrangement of the respective parts of the drilling-apparatus with each other and with the v1active-power, which enables the working-vessel to lie at a convenient distance, and not necessarily veltieally over the drill. j

Eighth, facility of detaching the working-vessel from the chilling-apparatus when in danger of collision, or-

upon the sudden approach of a storm, for the purpose of seeking a place of safety, and as quickly renewing connection with the said drilling-apparatus when the danger is past.

' Ninth, capacity of being left in. position upon arock fora considerable length of time, without material.V danger, after the removal of the drill-shaft and the lowering of the upper platn'm-plate f g.

Tenth, the arrangement for preventing'the drill` from bouncing baekj] or striking continuously in the same place.

What we claim as our invent-ion, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improved supporting-frame of our drillingappa1'a`tus,'the said fra-me being composed of double platform-plates, upper columnar sup'ports, and oblique adjustable legs, arranged with each other substantially in the manner herein represented and described.

2. The connection of the upper platform-plate fg of our improved driding-apparatus, with the lower plattbrm-plate ofsaid apparatus, by means of hinges and a clamp er clamps, or the equivalents thereof, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. Operating the drill by means of the forked and slotted clutch Im n, substantially in the manner herein set forth.

4. The arrangement of the winding-guide -r with the lifting-'clutch mn, substantially in the manner and for thc purpose herein set forth.

5. Our peculiar mode of applying power to the lifting-clutch mi n, from a rota-ting or reciprocating lirst mover, located in a suitable floating vessel, to wit, by means ofthe connection of the said tirst mover above, with the lifting-clutch below, by means of the readilyadjustable line s, the direct lifting-chain r line o, and the pulley-block u, substantially iu the manner herein set forth.

6. When a drill is operated by means of a liftingclutch, substautiallyia the manner herein set forth,

combining a ratchet-wheel with the drill-shaft, and a spring-detent for said wheel, with one of the plat forms of the supporting-ame of the drilling-apparatus, Orother suitable support, substantially`r in the 4 manner and for the purpose herein represented and described. Y

In testimony that the aforegoing is a full and exact description of our improved submarine drilling-machine, we do hereby sign our names.

; JOHN G. FOSTER. GEORGE W. TOWNSEND. Witnesses:

GEORGE STEARNS, 'D. KQPPMANN. 

